- Sep 22, 2007
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What's the point?Discussion means nothing without two important elements:1) proper discusser(s)2) proper listener(s)Note that #1 does NOT say "Proper preacher(s)". Truth is not usually revelatory upon the first hearing: it must be hashed out in one's mind. For that, someone with something to say much be a proper discusser, willing to accept any truth, so long as it's true. If the discusser believes something (and discusses it) without a willingness to accept any truth, he is not a discusser, but a preacher: he will not bend, nor consider other points of view. Not only does this quality turn off potential listeners (who are not proper (addressed in a sec), but might be with the right discusser), but it means the preacher probably has not thought the issue out honestly in his own mind and does not have the ammunition to present the truth in question.EVERYone must be a proper listener: not everyone must be able to be a proper discusser, but that does not matter if the listeners listen properly. A proper listener considers the truth being discussed (OR preached) as being a viable option for truth. A Biblical example of a proper listener and a proper discusser would be the Bereans and Paul. The Bereans accepted that Paul's message MAY be truth and sought it out HONESTLY. They had their own beliefs, so they had the opposing side, and yet they were able to consider and even accept the message Paul discussed, showing their willingness to accept truth, even when it went against something they already held dear. I say Paul is a proper discusser because he is probably the most objective person in the Bible: he was absolutely on BOTH sides of truth at some points in his life: both were really viable options to him, so when he accepted Christianity, he was able to discuss it effectively with Jews of strict to not-so-strict persuasions, and he had a Gentile travelling companion, giving him non-Jewish perspective. The Bible says Paul refuted traditional arguments, not just preaching the message of Christ: he PROVED Christ. Some listened (proper listeners and improper alike: a proper discusser can address both, if the specific person is right) and believed: some listened and chose not to believe (proper listeners willing to consider, but not willing to change): some did not listen at all (improper) and only had their own message to say in response to Paul, not an actual response to his discussion.I urge everyone who frequents forums: be proper listeners. That is the first step in being proper discussers, which we must strive to be to win people to Christ when we can. The truth doesn't need the aide of a closed mind.